Tansy Briggs
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Ciara – the elevated iron levels in the blood had me thinking of a patient (not pregnant) I once had who had Hemochromatosis – it’s a genetic propensity to have too much iron in the blood. So, I wonder if the boys have caused her iron to elevate?? Did she have the elevated iron in all her pregnancies? or naturally prior? – just a thought. Anyway the treatment is to remove blood (as in giving blood every month), avoid any vitamin C (which increases iron absorption) and iron rich foods or supplements (ie. make sure she takes prenatal iron free), and chelation therapy to bind the iron. Obviously, she can’t give blood or do chelation since she’s pregnant – but maybe bleeding some appropriate points – like prick to bleed Du 14 and then cup it (with her sitting up) as a strategy. This is a very curious case. Keep us posted!
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Hello, interestingly, I had a similar patients about 7 plus years ago postpartum. I ended up doing a series of treatments of the sacral holes (UB 32-34) with 3″ needles that helped the rectum to heal and anything else connected with the trauma. I also did pelvic floor stabilization – such as the sacral illieac joints and GB30 plus GB41/Kid 5 bilaterally. Initially with the 3″ needles, I couldn’t get very far in due to the tension and trauma – but toward the end when she was healing – I could. I also used TDP lamp on top of this for heat. Let us know how she is doing. 🙂
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Hello Renee – I think that is great you are doing home visits for Postpartum women. It is so needed! This happens to be one of my specialities in that it is a very important time for women that can affect their health for a long time depending on how their postpartum goes. Since it is a time where we don’t see them coming to the office as much, I have developed ways to support by helping them prepare before birth and targeted home care after birth (although I don’t do home visits anymore). I also do telehealth for this time as well. I wrote a guidebook for this time for my patients to encompass basics plus nutrition. Keeping a warm digestion is key, along with acupuncture and herbal therapy. I also incorporate abdominal wrapping and other things to support healing. The main target initially postpartum is to return the abdomen (restore the core) to it’s original position, smooth out the hormone cliff (sometimes this is a endocrine/hormone rescue treatment), address any complications, pain, breastfeeding issues etc. I tend to use my TDP lamp a lot for warming as we can’t do moxa in our office. Some women are also sensitive to the moxa smoke (I happen to be allergic – so have developed many ways to work around this). Smokeless moxa is ok and get some same benefits as the regular – but can be frustrating to get started sometimes (have a good long lighter torch you use for grilling!). Happy to talk more as this is a HUGE subject (in my opinion) and overall pattern differentiation really works to your benefit during this time. My patients get tired of me saying ‘rest’, ‘stay horizontal as much as possible first 30 days’, ‘keep your digestion warm’, and ‘no lifting or bouncing exercise until the core is healed’… lol. Sometimes they actually listen 🙂
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Claudia, thanks for posting this. I seem to default so much to GB 34 and 41 that I forget about GB 31 – I will make sure to start using it again for this!
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This is really interesting. I have started using K9 for many years now in my point combination in IVF transfer follow ups about 5-7 days post transfer. I have found that it really helps with the implantation and keeping the pregnancy and will use it up to the scan that shows the heart beat (between 6 and 7 weeks). For posterity I tend to include it in the trimesters due to the ‘beautiful baby’ that I learned in school. This gives me another tool and time to use it. Wonderful!!!!!
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Hi Anita, I don’t know Sharon Weizenbaum as I have never taken herbs from her, but I know people who have and have really liked her. I was lucky in my initial education to have three really great herb teachers and one especially that I learned the pregnancy and postpartum herbs from. Honestly, I stick with the materia medica quite a bit and also “Notes from the South Mountain” by Andrew Ellis. I always feel that if you get your diagnosis right – the herb formulas follow pretty well. Goldenflower herb company also has a really nice write ups on formulas – for example – check out: Dang Gui Shao Yao San for ‘safe pregnancy’. They have some good formulas as well with detailed descriptions and diagnosis patterns. Here is a link, https://www.easterncurrents.ca/Files/PDFs/GFCH-Tang-Kuei-and-Peony.pdf
– Tansy
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Hi Ciara – if I have been regularly seeing a pregnant patient – I’ll prepare a custom formula for them to have on hand before the baby is born for the initial formula. Then, I’ll modify if needed after – I have found that faster and helps with timing. If it’s someone I don’t know well, I’ll have them come in or do a telehealth consult. I have found that core formula to do what is needed most of the time. I have patients begin it about 3 days after giving birth (or as soon as they are home from the hospital).
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Ciara – a good thing to think about. Yes, I worried this might be the case or some other issue with the shape of the uterus. Luckily, Claudia’s technique worked in this case! Thanks, Tansy
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Hello Claudia, you’re a genius! This past Tuesday I did the ‘handwich’. So much came up as well – from the history of her mother wanting her babies to be breech so she would have to have a c-section as she didn’t want to have her babies vaginally (and having them be breech – according to my patient – because her mom always gets ‘her way’). Also, my patient is sort of going against the grain about wanting a vaginal birth and other things (likes names, etc) that aren’t following the tradition of the family so to speak. Also, during the treatment, the baby moved a lot – I did feel she was beginning to move head down. She went the next day and her midwife confirmed the baby moved head down. Today she had an ultrasound which confirmed it as well. Thank you! Great Success 🙂
Warmest, Tansy
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Hi Claudia, Thanks so much for the reply! So – we are about 5 days into the home moxa (she will continue up to 10 days). Such a good suggestion for the ‘handwich’ – I used to do this and totally forgot about it. Initial focus was to make as much space in the torso via back points and distal points to straighten out the spine, her posture and pelvic – as she does tend to slouch a bit. I see her Monday and will do the handwich and see how we do. She has been very guarded about telling me her situation. She is an old patient I haven’t seen for some years and she just popped in all of a sudden, pregnant. I can’t figure out if she is a single parent or has a partner or same gender partner. All she has said is she doesn’t know who the father is. I know she is living with her parents as she complains about them being too loud. Her background is Russian – and very anxious and serious. I did get her to laugh at a Putin joke I made… so … some progress 🙂 Will update. Many Thanks, Tansy
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Thanks! will pass on 🙂
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Of course – go ahead and share! I do insert a little deeper than the ‘drain aggressive energy, harmonize the senses’ 5 element treatment. I use even technique – so ‘neutral’. For stressed pregnant women, I have used the 5 element way too. Both have worked well for many years in clinical practice. It’s so gentle and relaxing. The mother falls asleep and the baby stretches out.
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No worries, I didn’t take it as a recommendation, but understanding this action clarifies it a bit more clearly – especially why it might be working with post IVF transfers for calming the uterine contractions – especially in reaction to the transfer itself. I had used it mostly as a kidney yang point to aid the “LH” phase.